The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-19
AroIsUNING CASE,
a Celebrated New York Scandal Revive
By Recent tDcveiapmsnts,


BY Recent Dcveioplnsnts.
DELHI, N. Y Jan. IS Tho Hoops wilt
poisoning case, which gave rise to sen
sational trial at the December term Of thu
County Court, and which terminated in q
verdict OF aequittal Of the accused hui
band, now has sequel in the opening Of
Coroners irqueat under cltcumstances
implying strong suspicious that a lately
deceased conspicuous citizen Of this
county was fouliy done to death by poison.
The investigation ia being conducted BY
Coroner ]. II. Banker and fury Hum.
moned by him. The frat step was the
exhumation OF the remains OF John W.
Griffin, a former large property owner and
respected citizen Of Hobart, who died, as
then was supposed, OF natural causep, on
December %, 1885, and the removal Of
the stomach and portions OF the intestines.
These were placed In a glass jar undcr
seal, and on Saturday were sent to an OK.
pert chemist ut Albany for analysis.
The surviving widow Is a handsome
and lively brunette, who formerly moved
in the highest church and socisl circles,
and possessed fair fame, unsmirched by
scandal. In April, 1885, rs she testified at
the late trial, she became acquainted with
Arthur F. Hoops, coachmsn In the en-
ploy Of neighboriug family: He isa we'll
educated and notably good looking man
Of IS years. Prior to Mr.. Giftin's death
Hoops was a frequent caller at the house
on ono pretext or another, and the cor.
diali'y between Mrs. Griffin and the coach.
man became subject Of remark. After
tho husbands death, Hoops, having
meantime quit his place as coachman,
was engaged pretty regularly in the fair
widow g employ as gardaer and overseer
OF her landed property, and the relations
OF the two became matter Of outside
notoriety. snT @1,5llIl7fs 'E7fIST :
1t was at this stage OF affairs, and in
March last, while Hoops and his wife,
who was pretty, mild.manuered young
woman, were boarding at n Mrs. Rolling,
that the alleged attempt by the husband
to poison his wife occurred. Somebody,
evidently with deadly intent, mixed
cyanid Of potassium with tbs salt in the
dish placed by ths side Of Mrs. Hoops
plate at the breakfast table. TIE authori-
ties thought they saw a motivs for the
crime in desire on Hoop,' part to rid
himself Of his wifo that be might marry
the widow Griffin, and be was arrested,
indicted and brought to trial. At the trial
the widow was an interesting and self
possessed and positive witness for the de.
Tense, in repudialing any unla aiul init
macy with the accused man. She admitted
on crose-examination, however, that che
gave bail for his appearance for trial "be-
cause she thought he was innocent" and
that she had transferred certain real es.
tate to his lesding counsel, but she denied
that the transfer was in payment OF coua.
sci fees, The jury on the first ballot stood
eight to four ior acqnittal, and aissrward
united in verdict OF not guilty.
Ihe verdict WAS not satisfactory to many
minds in the community, and when HoepI
went back direct from the prisoners dock
into the employ Of Mrs. Griffin, suspicion
and scandal were excited to redoubled In
tensity. The Coroner's inquest, now in
progress, ia the outcome OF the state OF
public feeling. The Coroner has as yet
ordered no arrests, but il is understood
that II the chemia,'s analysis develops the
fact that John ". Griffin was killed by
prison, one or more peraons will ba called
to answer at the bar OF Justice for the
crime. TIE theory is that Mrs. Griffin
was to poison her husband, and Hoops his
wife 80 that the widow and the coachman
might marry. The coachmau, by accident,
was prevented from carrying out his part
OF the agreement. 1T